ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – Brett Phillips meets with a group of young fans before the Tampa Bay Rays’ game between the Washington Nationals at Tropicana Field June 19, 2026. (Scott Audette / Tampa Bay Rays)
What does a brand engagement executive entail? For Brett Phillips, it represents everything and more, a role he embraces wholeheartedly. Whether discussing his 2020 World Series experience with fans or meeting corporate sponsors in a suite, every interaction—be it with supporters or business partners—holds immense value.
“That’s precisely the vision I had,” Phillips remarked, speaking a few hours before a recent Rays game at Tropicana Field. “The title ‘Brand Engagement Executive’ is intentionally broad.”
Preparing for a Major League Baseball game involves countless departments working in concert, a reality I’m only now fully grasping,” Phillips explained, a sixth‑round pick of the Houston Astros in 2012 and a former Ray who appeared in parts of three seasons over a seven‑year MLB career with five clubs. “As a player I was oblivious to these dynamics; now, from this perspective, I aim to contribute to every department.”
At 32, Phillips remains as eager as the 19‑year‑old rookie he once was in Greeneville, Tennessee, absorbing every lesson to make this new chapter as rewarding as possible.
“I wanted to begin at the ground level,” he said of a conversation with CEO Ken Babby before his hiring, which lasted about an hour. “I view myself as the rookie I once was. Though I don’t yet know the full scope of this role, I am committed to learning, working hard, and being a teammate—believing the possibilities are limitless, just as they were on the field.”
No persuasion is needed to engage Phillips in season‑ticket initiatives, enhanced holder experiences, or corporate partnership development; it is second nature for him to convey the profound meaning the Rays have held for him since childhood. Consequently, the many hats he wears today fit as comfortably as the caps he once donned while patrolling center and right field at the Trop.
“You must believe in whatever you are promoting, correct?” Phillips emphasized. “My devotion to the Rays is so deep that sharing my experiences comes naturally. When I speak, I am not merely selling; I am telling a story I genuinely love.”
Developing baseball and business skills
Phillips grew up roughly 15 miles from Tropicana Field in Seminole. He spent much of his youth attending Rays games before being drafted by the Houston Astros out of Seminole High. He debuted in MLB with the Brewers in 2017 and later joined the Rays after a 2020 acquisition from Kansas City.
He played 210 of his 393 career MLB games for his hometown team and hit what remains his most memorable of 31 home runs. Even so, representing the Rays in his native community is indescribable.
“It feels like a full circle,” he said. “After growing up as a child who loved the Rays and baseball, to now be in this position—where I feel immense pride and gratitude—makes me want to pinch myself and exclaim, ‘Wow, this is incredible.’”
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – Brett Phillips leads a tour for Premiere League Legends at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on April 17, 2026. (Davida Franklin / Tampa Bay Rays)
The business side of baseball has long fascinated Phillips, shaped by his upbringing. His mother, Jody, moved from Illinois at age 13 and spent nearly four decades with Clearwater‑based Frontline Communications, eventually rising to senior management in a field historically dominated by men.
“She began at 17 as a filing clerk,” Phillips said proudly. “Her work ethic and passion for her work are the very reasons I am where I am today.”
Phillips’ father, also named Brett James Phillips, is a Connecticut native and an entrepreneur and businessman—qualities the younger Phillips credits for instilling strong business acumen alongside his athletic development.
“In a way, I grew up observing my parents’ professional lives,” Phillips noted. “Throughout my playing career I always studied colleagues in various baseball roles, admiring their expertise. I sought to absorb their practices and incorporate those lessons into my own approach.”
Phillips intrigued by what fans have to say
Many Rays fans have attended games since the franchise’s inaugural 1998 season. What compels supporters to return year after year? Is it the on‑field product, a favorite player, or simply a love of baseball? Phillips sought insights from long‑time season‑ticket holders.
“For some, the motivation is ‘time with Dad’ and ‘time with my kids over the years,’” he explained. “People come here to share quality moments together, free from distractions.”
The relative quiet can be especially inviting for those who attend a game with minimal concerns beyond their own thoughts.
“I once spoke with a solo businessman who told me, ‘When I’m at a baseball game, I have my best ideas,’” Phillips recalled. “He said it was because the venue is his happy place. It struck me that many fans return for reasons unrelated to the players.”
Even as Junior Caminero may interrupt reverie with a 400‑foot home run and the distant foghorn from Albert Whitted Airport, Phillips recognizes that the experience extends beyond the crack of the bat and the painting of the corners.
“The game does not necessarily revolve around us, and we may sometimes think it does—perhaps all the time,” he said, half‑joking, half‑seriously. “There are countless activations and attractions that may draw fans for reasons beyond watching the game. I found that observation particularly intriguing.”
Phillips retired as a player on his terms
When the White Sox released Phillips from a minor‑league contract in May 2024—three weeks before his 30th birthday—he was unwilling to quit, relying on the powerful arm that had defined his career.
“Every coach told me my outfield arm was the strongest they’d ever seen,” he said. “That arm earned me my draft selection.”
That realization prompted him to consider pitching.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Brett Phillips takes a selfie with a young fan prior to an MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles on July 15, 2022 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I haven’t pitched since Little League,” he said. “I never threw a high‑school inning, yet I always possessed a strong arm. To look back and say I explored every avenue to play the game I love, I needed to at least try pitching.”
After consulting his wife—an obvious step given her unwavering support—it was time to take the mound and give it his all.
His performance at the 2024 National Baseball Congress World Series with a Texas team earned him a signing with the Yankees, for whom he made a single appearance with the Class A Tampa Tarpons. He later joined the independent Kane County (Ill.) Cougars in 2025, appearing in four games before allowing 11 earned runs over three innings. A torn labrum compounded the difficulties of transitioning to pitching, ultimately prompting his retirement as a player.
He gave it his best shot, exactly as he had wanted.
“I left the game on my own terms, having fun while pitching,” he said.
Today, Phillips is embracing a new pitching role with the Rays and revels in the excitement that greets him the moment he steps into Tropicana Field hours before game time.